Champion’s redemption: Muydinkhujaev on triumph, defeat, and accountability

The Paris Olympic Games marked a historic moment for Uzbek sports, as the national delegation finished 13th in the overall medal standings, winning a total of 13 medals — 8 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze.

Among the standout performers was Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev, who claimed the Olympic champion title in the -71 kg weight class despite facing intense criticism before the competition.

Muydinkhujaev's journey to Olympic glory was far from smooth. At the 2023 Asian Games in China, he faced backlash after losing to Kazakhstan's Aslanbek Shimbergenov. The defeat came after two rounds of fierce fighting, followed by a technical knockout in the third round. However, instead of succumbing to the pressure, Muydinkhujaev channeled his frustration into preparation for the world's biggest sporting event — the Olympics. His determination paid off as he emerged victorious, securing a gold medal and silencing his critics.

"I take the defeat against Shimbergenov as a great experience for me. After this failure, I worked on myself and eventually became the Olympic champion," said Muydinkhujaev in an exclusive interview with QALAMPIR.UZ.

During the interview, the 23-year-old boxer also addressed a separate controversy involving a traffic violation while driving a Tahoe gifted to him by the President. Muydinkhujaev downplayed the incident, stating:

"This is not an indulgence. The law is equal for all. It all happened by chance."

For context, Muydinkhujaev was born on May 8, 2001, in the Rishton district of the Fergana region. In addition to his Olympic gold medal, he has a bronze medal from the 2022 Asian Championship in Amman and a gold medal from the 2023 World Championship held in Tashkent.